Kushalnagar: Acting on a tip-off provided by former President Kudumangalore Gram Panchayat Bogappa, Kushalnagar Rural Police have arrested ten people who were allegedly engaged in a ‘Rice Pulling’ racket.

The accused have been identified as Baburaj 29, a Realtor from Nanjangud, K.S. Sunil, 25 of H.D. Kote taluk, M.S. Dileep, 31, of KRS, Satyananda, 28 of Chinakurali in Mandya district, N. Pratap, 24, of Nanjangud taluk M. Raju, 20 of KRS, Sujendra Kumar, 27, of Pandavapura taluk, Apekshith, 19 of KRS, M. Umesh, 25, of Baburayanakoppal and K.R. Santhosh 21 of Pandavapura taluk.

The Police have recovered two cars, Rs. 20,000 in Cash, 12 cellphones and a copper vessal from the gang.

Bogappa was said to have lost about Rs. 23 lakh two years ago, from one such ‘Rice Pulling’ racket. A month ago Baburaj was said to have called Bogappa on phone and offered a multi-crore deal through ‘Rice Pulling Radiation Power Metal’ claiming that it was in great demand abroad.

Sensing foul play, Bogappa summoned the gang to his home-stay recently in Chikkatur near here posing to strike a deal. Kushalnagar Rural Police, who were informed earlier about the plan, swooped on the spot and arrested the gang members.